Air-pressure-producing attachment for gasolene-tanks.



R. C. THARP & P. G. BUUKLES.

AIR PRESSURE PRODUCING ATTACHMENT FOR GASOLENE TANKS APPLICATION FILED FEB. L5. I911.

1,245, 1 65. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

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l 0 h y 5 I 1 a 0 i 'l i' R. L. Tharp UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REASON C. THABP AND PEARLEY G. BUCKLES, 0F OSCEOLA, MISSOURI.

AIR-PRESSURE-PRODUCING ATTACHMENT FOR GASOLENE-TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 191 '7.

Application filed February 15, 1917. Serial No. 148,874.

ola, in the county of St. lair and btate of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Pressure-Producing Attachments for Gasolene-Tanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an air pressure producing attachment for liquid containing tanks, particularly gasolene tanks, whereby suitable pressure may be produced within the tank to force the gasolene or other contents thereof from the tank to a desired point.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device. of this character by means.

of which air under pressure may be forced into the gasolene supply tank of an automobile or the like, in which thegasolene is fed by gravity from the tank to a carbureter, so that when the, gasolene in the tank reaches a low level and the machine is climbing a grade the gasolene may be forced by air under pressure from the tank to the carbureter to overcome well known defects occurring under such conditions of service.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character described whereby air may be supplied to the tank from a hand ump forming part of such attachment, or from an auxiliary source I of compressed air supply, and whereby the pressure from the tank may be readily and conveniently released when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pressure producing attachment of the character set forth which may, if desired, be applied to the plug or closure sealing the filling inlet of the tank, thus pro viding for the ready and convenient removal,

of the parts of the attachment for cleaning,

, repairs or other purposes without the necessity of employing auxiliary parts.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanymg drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of a cap or closure plug embodying the improved features of our invention.

Flg. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of the device as applied for use to a gasolene tank.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the combined filling and escape valve.

Fig. 4 is a view of the plug thereof.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the auxiliary charging valve.

In the present embodiment, we have shown the application of our invention to the threaded closure plug Lof the threaded filling inlet 2 of a gasolene tank 3, a portion of which is disclosed, andwhich may be of any. of the types commonly employed upon automobiles. This plug or cap is provided with a rim flange 4: to clamp a sealing disk 5 against the wall of the opening 2 to closely seal the joint, and said cap is provided with gripping lugs or projections 6 for convenience in applying and removing it, as will be readily understood.

A portion of the body of the plug or cap is provided with an opening 7 for passage of a pump tube or casing 8 which is brazed,

into the tank to a suitable point in proximity to the bottom of the tank and is provided with a check valved charge outlet 12,

the check valve employed being preferably of the type commonly used in the inlet tubes of pneumatic tlres, although it may be of any other suitable construction.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the operator, whenever desired, may charge the tank with air to a desired pressure above the level of the gasolene, so that the gasolene will be forced from the tank to the carbureter, no matter what the respective levels of the tank and carbureter may be. Thus in an automobile equipped with a gravity feed system pressure may be supplied to the tank when the For the purpose of venting the pressure from the tank when not needed or desirable, I provide a vent valve which may also be employed as a charging device. This valve, generally denoted by 13 comprises a casing 14 threaded at its lower end into the cap and having a longitudinal passage 15 and a transverse tapered passage 16. Intersectmg the tapered passage 16 at its enlarged end is a venting groove or recess 17. Fitted wlthin the recess 16 is a valve plug 18 havmg a transverse passage 19 for cooperation with the passage 15 and also having a longitudinal groove or recess 20 adapted to connect the lower portion of the passage 15 with the recess 17 when the valved plug 18 is in a prescribed position. The plug 18 is provided with a finger piece 21 at one end and a stem 22 at its opposite end. On the stem 22 are spaced washers 23 and 2 1, the washer 23 hearing against the adjacent s de of the casing and a coiled spring 24 being interposed about said stem between said washers to hold the valve snugly seated and take up wear. A cotter pin or key 25 is provided for holding the washers and spring in position.

In the use of the pump 8, the valve plug 18 is closed against the escape of air through the vent recesses, so that the tank may e charged with air through the pump in an obvious manner, but this pressure may be released whenever. desired by turning the valve plug 18 to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the pressure will vent through the recesses. The valve plug may be allowed to remain in the normal position shown in Fig. 3, so that the recesses 17 and 20 will serve the additional functions of an air inlet, to allow air to enter the tank normally to take the place of the gasolene discharged. Connected with the upper end of the passage 15 is a check valved filling inlet 26, which may be of the type hereinbefore referred to, and which adapts the valve 13 to be employed as a charging device, for the admission of air through an auxiliary hand pump in the event thatthe pump 8 should become inoperative from any cause. It will thus be seen that the valve 13 serves a plurality of functions. and provides a valuable feature in a device of this character.

If desired, we may also provide the cap or plug with a check valved chargin device or tube 27, which may be employe in the misuse event of possible inoperativeness of the other charging devices, or for charging the tank from a charging station in which the air is taken from a compressed air tank or reservoir. The construction of this charging device 27 will be readily understood in the tank, and at the same time provides for the ready removal of the parts of the charging device with the cap or plug for convenience in cleaning, repairing, replacing worn parts and otherwise maintaining the same in proper working condition.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gasolene tank having a filling inlet, a detachable cap for closing said inlet, a check valved air inlet tube carried by the cap, means for forcing air into the tank through said check valved air inlet tube, an air outlet tube mounted on the cap separate from and independent of communication with said air inlet, and a valve controlling said air outlet tube.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a asolene tank having a filling inlet, a cap for closing said inlet, an air pump carried by the cap, a check valved inlet tube carried bythe cap, a second tube carried by the cap and having a check valved inlet and an outlet, and a plug carried by said second tube and controlling both the inlet and the outlet.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gasolene tank having a filling inlet, a cap for closing said inlet, a pump carried by the cap for supplying air to the tank, a casing carried by the cap and having air inlet and exhaust passages for supplying air to and discharging the same and a longitudinal recess at an angle to said passage for cooperation with the recess of the casing and the aforesaid plug recess intersecting said casin longitudinal passage.

5. In a device of t e character described,

the combination of a gasolene tank having a filling inlet, a plug or cap for closing said inlet, an air pump carried by said cap, a valve casing carried by the cap and having 10 passages for the inlet and exhaust of air,

a check valve controlling the inlet passage, and a plug controlling both of said passages.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in the presence of two wit- 

